Arizona Cardinals DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is hopeful to be out there playing in the preseason. The rookie wideout told reporters on Thursday that he wants to play during the preseason games. Head coach Jonathan Gannon agreed with Harrison saying that the first-round pick should be out there. Obviously, the Cardinals don't want to risk injury to their prized rookie receiver, but Harrison also needs game action to learn his new playbook. The assumption is that Harrison is going to have a significant target share during his rookie campaign.

Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado has firmly placed himself as a player in the training camp battle to be the team's RB2. Demercado has been subbing in for James Conner during first-team work with Michael Carter taking second-team work and 2024 third-round pick Trey Benson spelling Carter. Demercado was a regular contributor last season for the Cardinals thanks to his pass-blocking work but he also started two games for the team in Weeks 7-8. Demercado's skillset is valuable and looks to be in line for a roster spot for the Cardinals, but it's only a matter of time before Benson moves up the depth chart considering the draft capital the team spent on him this past April. Demercado shouldn't be drafted in fantasy for this upcoming season but could find some waiver wire buzz if injuries strike the Cardinals' backfield.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson has been running with the starting offense early in training camp practices, even after the team added Zay Jones in the offseason. Wilson led the starting unit on Thursday with three catches and is looking to build on a rookie season in which he had 38 receptions for 565 yards on 58 targets. In addition to his role on offense, Wilson also split repetition in punt-return drills with Greg Dortch and Xavier Weaver. Rookie first-rounder Marvin Harrison Jr. is going to be a starter right away, so Wilson, Dortch and Jones figure to battle for the next two starting spots in camp and the preseason. The 24-year-old Wilson appears to be off to a good start. If he can remain as efficient as he was in 2023 with more opportunities in 2024, Wilson could be a popular early-season waiver-wire target in the Cardinals offense.

When asked about the team's quarterback competition at the start of training camp, New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo said, "Coming out of spring, I think it's clear Jacoby Brissett is the most pro-ready guy we have." Even though the Patriots selected Drake Maye with the third overall pick in April's NFL draft, the expectation all along was that Brissett, a 31-year-old veteran, would open the 2024 regular season as the starter under center while Maye sits and learns on the sidelines. "I don't think there's any doubt," Mayo went on to say when asked if Brissett was the starting QB for training camp. Maye will probably end up playing later on in his first NFL season, but early on it will be Brissett leading an offense without many playmakers. With limited weapons in the passing game and a shaky offensive line, Brissett is a desperation QB2 in superflex leagues in 2024.

Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson is signing his four-year rookie deal on Thursday, according to a source. The two-time All-ACC RB from Florida State with 4.3-second speed never fumbled during his collegiate career and is expected to play a prominent role for the Cardinals' offense in 2024 alongside lead back James Conner. The 21-year-old 66th overall pick tore multiple ligaments in his knee while at Oregon in 2020 but scored 24 total touchdowns in 2022 and 2023 with the Seminoles. There are questions about his durability, but Benson's combination of power and speed give him plenty of upside at the next level in the long-term. In single-year fantasy leagues, Benson will be worth a late-round flier as a handcuff for managers that take the plunge on the oft-injured Conner.